With the number of all-terrain vehicle riders climbing to exceed 16 million at locations across the United States, land managers are attempting to balance the activity's popularity with the nation's natural resources.

"ATV riding can be a blast," said Patti Klein, national stewardship coordinator for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. "But it can also be damaging to public lands if not done responsibly. As land managers, we encourage people to help protect the great outdoors by riding responsibly and practicing outdoor ethics, like those created by Tread Lightly!."

Tread Lightly!, a non-profit organization that educates people to recreate responsibly, has issued several practical tips on minimizing environmental impact from ATVs.